Junior Linux Kernel Engineer at Canonical

Confirmed open

Develop and test Ubuntu Linux kernels for devices, desktops, servers and clouds in a globally remote early-career role.

Canonical

Location: Remote
Advertised region: Home based - Worldwide
Work arrangement: remote
Technologies: Python, Linux

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Role overview

Canonical’s kernel team recruits recent graduates and early-career engineers to maintain supported Ubuntu kernels across architectures. The work includes new silicon, embedded platforms, security patches and drivers, with mentoring from senior engineers. Home-based teams operate in every time zone.

Responsibilities

Learn kernel development with senior mentors and coordinate with silicon, cloud and hardware partners.
Diagnose kernel defects reported by customers or found through testing, and prepare patches for review.
Improve tooling and automation for building, testing and delivering Ubuntu kernel variants.
Work with upstream maintainers on security fixes, drivers and support for new platforms.

Qualifications

Programming in C or Rust, familiarity with version control such as Git and understanding of operating-system kernel basics.
Ability to communicate in English and collaborate respectfully in a remote open-source team.
Interest in low-level software and availability for company events twice a year, each lasting up to two weeks.
Helpful experience includes Python or Bash, Ubuntu packaging, kernel patching, device drivers or board-support packages.

Technology in this role

Python: Helpful experience includes Python or Bash, Ubuntu packaging, kernel patching, device drivers or board-support .
Linux: Every year we select new junior professionals into the Canonical Kernel Team, to work on the Linux kernel for .
C: Programming in C or Rust, familiarity with version control such as Git and understanding of operating-system kernel .
Rust: Programming in C or Rust, familiarity with version control such as Git and understanding of operating-system kernel .
Bash: Helpful experience includes Python or Bash, Ubuntu packaging, kernel patching, device drivers or board-support .
Git: Programming in C or Rust, familiarity with version control such as Git and understanding of operating-system kernel .
CAN: We are a global team working to ship the world's most widely used Linux kernel, across the very latest silicon and cloud, where you can apply and grow your software engineering .

Role-specific candidate guide

Preparation notes based on the employer’s stated responsibilities and qualifications.

Understanding the scope. This Junior Linux Kernel Engineer - Ubuntu position at Canonical is best assessed through the work described in the employer’s posting, rather than the title alone. The available role overview says: “Canonical’s kernel team recruits recent graduates and early-career engineers to maintain supported Ubuntu kernels across architectures. The work includes new silicon, embedded platforms, security patches and drivers,…” Read that statement together with the responsibilities below to understand the likely balance between delivery, coordination and technical decision-making. The role belongs to the embedded and systems software area, but that label is only a guide to the work; the employer’s own requirements remain decisive. Before applying, check the original listing for reporting lines, product or team assignment, employment terms and any details that may have changed since this copy was checked. Where this page says a fact is not specified, treat it as an open question rather than an implied promise.

What the responsibilities signal. The posting specifically names “Learn kernel development with senior mentors and coordinate with silicon, cloud and hardware partners.”; “Diagnose kernel defects reported by customers or found through testing, and prepare patches for review.”; “Improve tooling and automation for building, testing and delivering Ubuntu kernel variants.”. For each duty, identify a project where you performed comparable work and be ready to describe the context, your own contribution, constraints, decisions, and measurable result. Explain how you moved from the initial need to implementation, review, release or operational follow-through, where those stages apply. If the work involved other teams or users, distinguish your decisions from the group’s contribution. Avoid presenting a technology keyword as proof by itself: connect it to the problem you solved, the scale or complexity involved, and what changed after your work. The source may contain additional duties; review it directly before preparing your application.

How to read the requirements. The listed qualifications include “Programming in C or Rust, familiarity with version control such as Git and understanding of operating-system kernel basics.”; “Ability to communicate in English and collaborate respectfully in a remote open-source team.”; “Interest in low-level software and availability for company events twice a year, each lasting up to two weeks.”. Mark each requirement as demonstrated, adjacent experience or a genuine gap, then use a concise example for the first two categories. A strong example explains what you personally owned, how you made trade-offs, how you validated the result and what you learned.

Benefits

We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide. We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates) to ensure we recognize outstanding performance. In addition to base pay, we offer a performance-driven annual bonus or commission. We provide all team members with additional benefits which reflect our values and ideals. We balance our programs to meet local needs and ensure fairness globally.
Distributed work environment with twice-yearly team sprints in person
Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
Team Member Assistance Program & Wellness Platform
Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events

About Canonical

Canonical publishes Ubuntu and develops open-source software for cloud, connected devices and enterprise infrastructure. Its teams work across countries.

Employer website

How to apply

Review the original posting and apply through the employer’s careers page.

View source and apply

Source checked: 2026-11-08

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